Secrets of the Night Special Edition (60 page)

She peeked around the corner of the palace and found the guards at the far end of the courtyard, fast asleep. Darkness cloaked their sleeping bodies, and she said another silent prayer that their slumber--and her absence--would not be reported for hours. She heard the noise and chatter of all the visitors inside, another party being held in the Blue Reception Room. Keeping away from the busy stables, she rushed past the palace gardens, heading for the
Royal North Road
to Moytura. She had to cover a distance of over twelve miles and reach Radegunda by early morning.

Keriam wanted to shout with relief. She was free! Ahead of her beckoned Moytura and refuge.

Tempted to leave the road and make her way through the meadows and farmland that bordered either side of the highway, she rejected that idea, confident she would make quicker time this way. And time--besides safety--was very important.

Thankful she wore her most comfortable leather shoes, she ran faster than ever, racing toward the dirt road, reaching it minutes later. She looked up at the sky, alarmed to find thousands--millions!--of stars decorating the heavens, a full moon frosting the countryside with a silvery glow. Anyone could see her, since few trees or bushes lined this empty stretch of road. She hoped and prayed--

Hoofbeats pounded behind her. Her heart lurched, and she glanced all around, her eyes searching for sanctuary, but only grassy meadows flanked the open road. The horse drew nearer, the hoofbeats like a clash of cymbals. Why hadn't she considered a disguise, anything to conceal her identity? She resisted the temptation to look behind her again.

The horse galloped past, stirring up dust, the rider no one she recognized and obviously no one who knew her.

"Whew! He had me worried, too."

Keriam jumped, staring around her; then she raised her head. "Oh, it's you! Zinerva, you shouldn't startle me like that."

The fairy hovered above her, whirling and dipping in graceful gyrations. Her silvery wings shone in the moonlight, her pink dress fluttering with every movement. "Sorry, princess," she said in her bell-like voice, "but I was so afraid for you after your escape from the palace." She flew nearer, until she floated in front of Keriam's eyes.

Keriam smiled at the fairy's childlike face, the tiny mouth and nose, the golden curls. "Have you been following me?"

Zinerva landed on her shoulder, a barely discernible tap, and plopped down. "As a matter of fact, yes. An owl hooting woke me up, and I saw you from my perch in the tree. I saw you lower yourself all the way on the rope. Oh, my! Madam, I'm so proud of you." She hopped across to the other shoulder, tiny feet padding across Keriam's upper back, and sat again. "I don't blame you for leaving, but why didn't you take your horse from the stable?"

Keriam gave the fairy an affectionate pat with her finger and switched her cloth bag to her other hand. "A horse would have made things much easier, wouldn't it? But it would also get Traigh in trouble. You know Traigh, the stable--"

"I know who Traigh is, and I know he's sweet on Maudina. Madam, there's not much we fairies miss." She sighed, her breath a soft caress on Keriam's neck. "So where are you walking to, the capital?"

"True, Moytura, where else?" The road became hilly now, trees growing in clusters along the roadside. The highway, wide enough for four men to ride abreast, winded through hills and valleys, past cultivated farms. Often, she had trouble seeing ahead as she followed the twists and turns of the road. Stone mile markers along the way revealed she still had much distance to cover. In silent procession, clouds drifted in front of the moon; how she wished that bright orb would remain concealed.

Grabbing branches for support, Keriam strained her legs to ascend the steep incline, her body bent forward until she reached the top several minutes later. She brought her mind back to Zinerva's question as she began her descent, taking cautious steps on the rock-strewn path that swung far to the right, nearing the
village
of
Clontarf
.

"Zinerva, much as I appreciate your company, please don't feel you must go with me. It's a long way to Moytura, and this is your sleeptime, after all." Hers, too, but there would be no slumber for her this night.

The fairy laughed. "Won't tire me, madam, not when I can ride on your shoulder, and I can nap tomorrow. But it occurs to me--maybe I can help you."

"Help me--how?" Keriam turned her head so quickly, she nearly dislodged the fairy. Zinerva caught herself in time, her tiny fingers clinging to Keriam's collarbone.

"Well, I know what a bitch--pardon my language, madam, but she is--"

"Yes, yes, go ahead."

"Well, when Aradia wakes tomorrow and finds you gone, she's going to be very, very angry."

"I realize that, Zinerva. And you know something? I don't care. I only worry that Maudina or the guards will get in trouble." She recalled the note she'd written, absolving the guards of blame. Surely the message should satisfy Aradia, but then again, with the sorceress, you never knew. "I won't forgive myself if someone should suffer because of me."

"Maybe I can create a di--di--"

"Diversion?"

Zinerva snapped her little fingers. "Yes, that's it. I can create a diversion so that when Aradia wakes up, she won't even think of you, at least not for a while."

"Umm. What kind of diversion?" Neat wattle-and-daub houses lined both sides of the road now, rich farmland spread out for miles.

"You know that gold necklace with a diamond pendant that Aradia always wears?" Zinerva asked.

"Do I know it! It's
my
necklace."

"Well, she takes it off at night and leaves it on her dresser. My, how it shines in the dark. Well, anyway, me and my friends can fly in her room at night and steal the pendant."

"And get Maudina or one of the household staff in trouble? Not a good idea."

"No, no, princess. We'd return it the next night, but if it disappears tomorrow morning, that will be enough of a dis-dis--"

"Distraction?"

"Right, a distraction so that Aradia won't notice you're gone 'til later. And I'm thinking none of the servants would tell her right away that you've disappeared."

"How do you know all this--about the pendant and where Aradia leaves it at night?"

The fairy giggled. "Princess, me and my friends often fly around in the palace at night. We come in through the open windows." She folded her arms across her chest. "No one sees us, honest. We know how to e-e--"

"Elude?"

"That's right, madam." Zinerva shook her head. "These big words give me trouble."

"Elude isn't a big word."

"No, but it's un-un--"

"Unfamiliar?"

"Yes, that's it. Anyway, we know how to elude the sentries. The inside sentries guard only the bedchambers and the first floor at night."

"Yes, I know."

Zinerva bent her little head to give Keriam a close look. "So what do you think?"

"You promise to return the pendant the next night?" Keriam didn't care about any anxiety Aradia might suffer, but as always, she feared for the servants.

"Of course, madam. We don't want to get anyone in trouble, either."

Still considering every aspect of the scheme, Keriam shoved her hair from her face and tucked the strands behind her ears.

"So what do you think, huh? What do you think?"

"Go ahead, then. Zinerva, I'm greatly indebted to you, but I fear daybreak will come soon, so best you return to the palace." She patted the fairy again with her finger. "Goodbye, dear friend."

Zinerva sprang from Keriam's shoulder. "Goodbye for now, princess. But I hope we see each other again soon." She flew away, waving her hand.

Keriam returned the wave. Missing the fairy already, she trudged on, her legs and feet tiring, her fatigue more noticeable now without Zinerva's engrossing presence. She brushed the dust from her hands and dress and bent to remove a stone from her shoe outside the
village
of
Bearaigh
. Not far to the capital now.

The air smelled sweet, filled with the scent of ripening wheat and corn. Ahead of her, a fox raced across the road, attended by two other foxes. Somewhere, a dog barked, and a chorus of howls reverberated through the still night air. The breeze picked up, clouds continually drifting across the sky. Trees swayed in the wind, tossing their branches to and fro. Cool night air washed over her, molding her dress to her body, blowing her long tresses across her face. Shivering, she hugged her arms. A rooster crowed in the distance, a signal of the imminent dawn.

Had they discovered her absence at the palace already? I mustn't get caught, she fretted again and again. If captured, what would they do to her? She'd heard tales of Balor's cruelty. He and Aradia are a perfect match, she agonized, her mind frantic with all the punishments they might devise.

So concerned about possible capture, she hadn't noticed how far she'd come along the road to Moytura. She glanced ahead, so glad her journey neared its end. She would not think about capture, she vowed, determined to be optimistic. Things
would
work out for her.

The ground leveled after a short while, the city's spires and towers visible in the distance, the spire of Talmora’s temple rising above the others. But she still had several miles to cover, and she didn't dare stop to rest. Despite the cool breeze, perspiration beaded her forehead and trickled down her back and between her breasts. Tempted to run and save time, she feared that exertion would only heighten her exhaustion and thus defeat her purpose. Best to maintain a steady pace.

Miles later, she reached the city's southern outskirts, the large warehouses and cheaper shops coming into view. Robins warbled from the trees, and a pink glow lit the western horizon.

What if Balor or Aradia had already sent soldiers after her? She glanced behind her but neither saw nor heard anyone. Just the same, so much could happen before she reached the safe anonymity of the city's streets. A soldier on horseback might be on her trail already, now ascending one of the steep hills along the way, able to make much better time than she on foot. Keriam rushed on, continually glancing over her shoulder, expecting to be caught any moment.

Weary and footsore, she reached
Warehouse Street
, thankful as never before for the city's convoluted layout. Aches and pains taunted her from her neck and shoulders to her hips, legs, feet, and toes. Worse, thirst tormented her, a torture aggravated by the dust that layered her mouth and throat. Not far to Perfume Lane, she thought, walking faster as she wove her way among Moytura's streets and alleys, her shoes slipping on the dew-slick cobblestones. Despite wearing comfortable shoes, blisters plagued her feet, and she removed her shoes and carried them, stepping warily among the garbage.

She approached Radegunda's street and stopped, edging back toward the storefront of a shoe repair shop.

Ahead of her, the city's sentries swarmed over the cobblestones, swords drawn, talking excitedly among themselves.

Heartsick, Keriam wanted to weep. How had the sentries already learned of her escape? Who had betrayed her? Zinerva? No, never!

Behind her, she saw only the empty street. Cautiously, she backed away, still pressed against the storefront. If she could only--

Too late! Glaring, a sentry raised his sword. "You! Come here!"

Chapter Twenty

Caught! Now return to the palace--to the dungeon!

Keriam looked in every direction but saw no escape. Suddenly mindful of her cloth bag, she slipped her hand behind her and dropped the incriminating evidence of her flight. The bag fell among piles of garbage that awaited disposal by the city's refuse collectors. She wanted to scream, kill the guards, race away from the city--and then what? Eventual capture. Questions hounded her. How had the sentries recognized her in her torn, faded work dress? Who had betrayed her and how had these men learned of her disappearance already?

Despite the frantic beating of her heart, she tightened her jaw, flashing the guard a defiant look. If these men intended to seize her, she'd fight them every step of the way.

But wait! He'd addressed her as "girl", giving no hint he suspected her royal lineage.

"You, girl!" Lowering his sword, the sentry motioned her closer. Even in the dim early morning light, she saw the one silver ash leaf that glinted on his collar, evidence of his lieutenant's rank. She headed his way, taking her time about it, resolved to make this encounter difficult for him, whether or not he suspected her of any crime.

The officer looked her up and down, an appreciative gleam in his eye, but spoke with a serious mien. "A man has escaped, a traitor to the king. We're questioning everyone who comes this way."

Inwardly, she sighed with relief, a short-lived contentment, for her mind brimmed with anxieties. Traitor? Who? Not Conneid Delbraith!
Please, don't let it be Conneid.

"We've hunted him for too many Goddess-damned ninedays." The guard slid his sword into the scabbard, the gleam in his eye replaced by tight-lipped fury. “So tell me, wench, have you seen any man leaving the city with his pregnant wife--a man about thirty, medium build, some gray hair?"